Game apparatus



(No Model.)

R. L. EHMER.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug. 18,1897.)

Patented Oct. ll, I898.

, m/ VENTOI? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH L. EHHER, OF MONSEY, NEtV YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,198, dated October11, 1898.

Application filed August 18, 1897. Serial No. 648,612. (No model.)

To'ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH L. EHMER, a citizen of the Unit-ed States,residing at Monsey, in the county of Rockland and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game apparatus; and the object of the sameis to provide means for the amusement and education of children andadults alike, this being attained by an apparatus which is simple,inexpensive, and durable.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which can be taken apart andpacked in small compass.

The invention consists of certain details and combinations of parts tobe hereinafter fully described, and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a front elevation of my gameapparatus, showing one of the levers turned over. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same, showing the actuating-piece. Fig. 3 is a sectional sideview showing in dotted lines one of the levers inverted or turned over.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates end supports or standards ofsuitable shape, which are connected by means of a shaft or rod B, fixedthereto by means of nuts I), screwed onto the screw-threaded ends of therods. Fulcrumed or hinged on this rod 13 are a series of levers D,preferably of sheet metal, although they may be of other suitablematerial.

O are metallic strips, which are bent to conform to the rod B, so as toform hinges, and the ends of which are riveted or otherwise suitablyfastened to the levers. The lower ends at of the levers are longer thanthe upper ends, so as to hang a considerable dis tance below the rod B.The portions d of the levers just in front of the rod B are widened, soas to bear suitable numbers, preferably the digits 1 to 9, correspondingto the nine levers, although I do not limit myself to that number nor tothe arrangement of said numbers. These widened portions of the leversprovide ample room for the numbers, and the washers or collars D, strungupon and secured by set-screws to the rod B, form spaces separating orspacing the levers a suitable distance apart, so that theywill notinterfere with one another.

Above the fulcrum-rod B the upper ends of the levers abut against astop-rod E, which is arranged parallel with the fulcrum-rod and issecured at its ends to the supports A, while the said upper ends arebackwardly bent at a suitable angle above the stop-rod E, so as to formrearwardlyextending portions d from-which extend upright plates or headsD which counterbalance the lower ends (Z of the levers and hold theupper ends of the same against the stop-rod E, so that in the normalposition of the levers the plates or heads D extend upwardly. Numbersare arranged on the backs of the heads or plates D these numberscorresponding to the numbers on the parts cl of the levers. When thelevers are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the numbers onthe front of the cult to strike a lever, for if the lever is notleversare disclosed, and when the levers are inverted into the position shownin dotted lines the numbers on the backs of theheads or plates D areseen.

In order to turn the levers over and cause them to move through an arcof one hundred and eighty degrees, their lower ends are forcibly struckby a suitable projectile or missile, and in order to assure that a leverbe inverted when squarely and forcibly struck and at the same time torender the striking of the levers more difficult weights or disks F areused, the same being provided with central vertical strike-pins f.

The actuating pieces or disks F are slid along a table or smooth floor,the object be ing to cause the strike-pin to hit the lower end of aselected lever. If the force of the blow is hard enough and the lever bestruck,the countel-balancing head or plate D is overbalanced and thelever inverted, so as to disclose the number on the back of the head DAn inclined lip g is arranged at the back of each lever, it beingpreferably formed by turning out the lower end of the metallichinge-strap C, said lip serving to frictionally engage the stop-rod Eand by reason of its resiliency prevent the sudden jar of the leveragainst the stop-rod, which jar would tend to throw the lever back toits former position. spaces between the levers render it more diffi-Thev struck the pin will simply pass through the space without invertingthe lever, While the disk can never strike the levers of theactuating-piece if properly manipulated.

By reason of the peculiar bending of the headed and counterbalanced endof each lever the same is made shorter than the lower end of the lever,so that when the lever is reversed the actuating-piece can never strikethe head.

For facilitating packing, so that the device will take up the smallestarea possible, the standards can be moved from the rods by loosening thenuts, and also the levers can be slipped off the rods and all the saidparts bunched together in small compass.

The apparatus affords training for the eye and at the same time isinteresting. It can also be employed for teaching numbers to children.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a gameapparatus, the combination with a suitably-supported rod, of a series ofreversible or invertible levers pivoted on said rod and free to swingthrough an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, said levers havingheaded and counterbalanced ends, shorter than the lower ends, and anactuating-piece adapted to be projected against the lower ends of thelevers, but clearing the headed end when a lever is reversed, with itslower end projecting upwardly, substantially as set forth.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination with a series of pivoted andreversible levers provided at the back with catch-lips extending at anangle to the bodies of the levers and arranged below the pivotal pointsof the levers, and above their lower extremities, of a stop-bar adaptedto be engaged by said lips when the levers are reversed, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLPH L. EHMER.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. WHEELOCK, PAUL GoEPEL.

